Mobile home construction



May. 17, 1966 M. c. POOLE MOBILE HOME CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 16, 1963 y 7, 1966 M c. POOLE 3,251,160

MOBILE HOME CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 16, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. Myron C. Poole BY A T TORNE Y United States Patent 3,251,160 MOBILE HOME CONSTRUQTIUN Myron C. Poole, 7048. 22nd t., Elwood, Ind. Filed Sept. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 308,955 11 Claims. (Cl. 52-64) This invention relates to a mobile home construction and more particularly to a mobile home having movable partitions which make is possible to convert one large room into two rooms, and vice versa, thereby enabling the affected area of the mobile home to be adapted to plural uses.

Among the purchasers of mobile homes is a great number of couples who, at the time of purchase of the home, have no need for two bedrooms. However, it is so desirable to have a second bedroom to accommodate ill persons or overnight guests that a large percentage of mobile homes purchased by couples include two bedrooms. In the instance of a couples owning a mobile home containing two bedrooms, the second bedroom may be used only infrequently, but the space taken up by the second .bedroom is otherwise unavailable except for storage and like uses. As a consequence, the area of the living room is smaller than it otherwise might be and, accordingly, the number'of persons who may occupy the living area at any onetime, without crowding, is low. Thus, the number of persons who may be entertained in a mobile home may be fewer than is desired by the owners.

Convertible rooms have been proposed heretofore in mobile homes and like structures, but they have not been altogether satisfactory for a number of reasons. instances, the conversion is of such a complicated and cumbersome nature as to require the efforts of one or more skilled persons. In other instances, the conversion process resulted only in partial privacy. In still other instances, inadequate provision was made for the storage of furniture such as beds, chests, and the like, resulting in a great deal of the space available for conversion being unusable or, alternatively, causing such objects to he visible from the living area.

An object of this invention is to provide a mobile home construction having a living area, a portion of which may be converted to use as a bedroom and in which the conversion may be effected quickly and simply by the most unskilled person.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mobile home construction of the kind referred to wherein practically all of the area of the convertible bedroom'may be utilized as living room space.

A further object of the invention is to provide a convertible mobile home construction wherein the furnishings of the convertible bedroom are completely obscured from view when the space is utilized as part-of a living room, and in which the convertible rooms furnishings are readily accessible upon conversion of the room, without any additional operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a convertible room mobile home construction in which the convertibility of the room is not readily apparent.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a mobile home having movable partitions capable of being moved to and from positions in which they form either one or two rooms;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

In some Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention is adapted for use in an otherwise conventional mobile home coach having a floor 1, a roof or ceiling 2, and a pair of spaced apart, parallel side walls 3 and 4. At opposite ends of the coach are end walls (not shown). It is customary to utilize the space at one end of the coach for a bedroom and to provide access to and from the bedroom along an aisle 5 that is formed by one side wall 3 and a spaced, parallel wall 6. The wall 6 is connected to a transverse wall 7 and these walls may form part of a room 8 such as a bathroom. Extending in prolongation of the wall 6 is a wall which terminates at one end at an upright stud or post 9a. Joined to the wall 9 is a transverse wall 19 which parallels the wall 7 but is spaced therefrom to provide a space 11 for utilities such as a furnace, air conditioner, and water heater. A number of divider panels 12 and 13 may join the two walls 7 and to form a storage area 14 for a built-in dresser l5 and cupboard 16, and to provide a closet 17. The wall 10 has an opening 18 providing access to the storage area 14 and a doorway 19 providing access to the closet 17.

Between the ends of the side wall 4 and forwardly, i.e., to the right of the wall It as indicated in FIGURE 1, is an opening 20 that extends from the floor 1 upwardly to the ceiling. Within the opening 20 is a bay unit 21 having a rectangular frame 22 to which are connected a number of vertical panels 23 which, together with top and bottom panels 24 and 25, respectively, form an alcove 26 in which an article of furniture such as a bed 27 may be received. Preferably, the'frame 22 is equipped with pivot posts 28 at its upper and lower sides which are received in the roof and floor members so as to permit the bay unit 21 to be rotated from a position in which it projects outwardly of the wall4, as is shown in the drawings, to a position in which it projects inwardly of the wall 4. The bay unit 21 may be retained in either position of adjustment by means of a rectangular frame 29 that is removably secured to the wall 4 by means of bolts 30.

The construction of the bay unit 21 may be like either of those disclosed in Patents Nos. 2,820,991 and 2,886,863, and to which reference may be had for a more detailed disclosure.

The bed 27 includes a frame 31 that is hinged as at a 32 to the base so as to be swingable from a raised position, as shown in the drawings, to a lowered position in which it may project inwardly of the Wall 4. To assure the beds assuming a truly horizontal position when in its lowered position, the frame may be provided with hinged legs 33 which may be swung out to rest upon the floor ll.

A movable partition 34 having a height slightly less than but corresponding substantially to the distance between the confronting surfaces of the floor and roof memhers I and 2, respectively, is swingably mounted at one of its ends to the wall 4 by means of a piano hinge 35 or the like. The length of the partition 34 and its point of connection to the wall 4 are such as to enable the partition to overlie the opening 20, but the partition terminates short of the transverse wall 10. A second partition 36 is swingably mounted at one of its ends to the post 9a by means of a piano hinge 37, and the length of the partition 36 is such as to enable it to overlie the wall 10. The partition 36 terminates just short of the wall 4-. The partition 36 has an opening 38 therein for alignment with the storage area 14, the opening 38 normally being closed by upper and lower doors 39 and 40, respectively, that are hinged as at 41 to the partition 36. The partition 36 also is provided with a doorway 42 in a position to register with the doorway 19, the doorway 42 normally being closed by a door 43 that is hinged as at 44 to the partition.

When the partitions 34 and 36 are in their retracted positions as shown in full lines in FIGURE 1, the partition 34 lies closely adjacent and parallel to the wall 4 and overlies the alcove 26 to conceal the latter and the bed 27 from view. The partition 36 is closely adjacent and parallel to the wall 1d and conceals the storage area 14 and the closet area 17 from view. In this position of the partition 36, however, access to the storage area 14 may be had through the doors 39 and 40, and access to the closet 17 may be had through the door 43.

When the partitions are in the positions shown in full lines in FIGURE 1, substantially the full area of the mobile home immediately to the right of the wall 10 may be utilized as a living room 5. A particularly important characteristic of the invention is that the only space lost when the partitions are in their retracted or full line positions is the space corresponding to the length and thickness of the partition members themselves.

When it is desired to convert part of the living room space into a bedroom, the partitions 34 and 36 may be swung from the full line positions to the dotted line positions shown in FIGURE 1 so as to form, with the walls 4 and 10, a substantially square enclosure as. In these positions of the partitions, the partition 34 is normal to the wall 4 and the partition 36 is normal to the wall and to the partition 34. Preferably, the partitions 34 and 36 are of-equal length so that their free ends will abut one another when they are swung to their projected positions.

To provide a finished appearing joint for the abutting ends of the partitions 34 and 36, the free end of the partition 34 preferably is equipped with moldings a7 and 48 between which the free end of the partition 36 may be received. The moldings also allow tolerance in mounting the partitions.

The partitions 34 and 36 may be maintained in their projected positions by any one of a number of suitable latch devices, such as a hook 49 on the partition 34 that removably may be received in an eye 5d on the partition 36.

When the partitions 34 and 36 have been swung to their projected positions, the bed 27 may be swung downwardly so as to project into the enclosure 46. Access to and from the enclosure may be had through the doorway 42 and privacy may be assured by closing the doors 39, 40 and 53. The occupant of the enclosure 4-6 will have full access to the storage area 14 and to the closet 17. The doors 39 and 43 preferably are louvered to provide adequate ventilation for the storage and closet areas, and for the room formed by the swinging of the partitions to their projected. positions. The enclosure 46 may be used as a dressing or sewing room, or office, if desired, merely by returning the bed to its raised position.

When it is desired to move the mobile home from one location to another, the partitions 34 and 36 may be swung to their projected positions, the frame 29 removed from the unit 21, and the latter rotated so as to project into the enclosure 46. The bed may be secured in its raised position and opening 26 covered with a shield (not shown) which may be retained in place by the frame 29, as is more fully explained in the aforementioned patent.

The construction of the partitions 34 and 36 is such that it requires substantially no skill to convert a portion of the living space into a bedroom, and vice versa. Moreover, the conversion is completed merely by swinging the partitions and the bed from one position to another and requires very little time.

One of the more important characteristics of the invention is that the interior of the mobile home has an appearance of permanency regardless of the positions to which the movable partitions are swung. As a consequence, the objections frequently encountered with obviously shiftable structures are overcome.

The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred form of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a mobile home or the like having walls defining a room: a first partition member; means mounting said partition member for swinging movements from a first position adjacent and substantially parallel to a first one of said walls to a second position substantially normal to said one of said walls; a second partition member; means mounting said second partition member for swinging movement from a first position adjacent and substantially normal to a second one of said walls to a second portion substantially normal thereto and substantially normal to said first partition member when the latter is in its said second position, whereby said partition members form with said first and second walls an enclosure within said room, one of said partition members having a doorway the-rein; and a door hingedly mounted on said one of said partition members for swinging movement therewith and for swinging movements between positions in which said door opens or closes said doorway.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein the wall adjacent which said one of said partition members extends when the latter is in its said first position has a doorway formed therein in alignment with the doorway formed in said one of said partition members.

3. In a mobile home or the like having walls defining a room: a first partition member; means mounting said partition member at one of its ends for swinging movement from a first position substantially parallel and adjacent a first one of said walls to aysecond position substantially normal thereto, the other end of said partition member being free and extending toward but terminating short of a second one of said walls; a second partition member; means mounting said second partition member at one of its ends for swinging movements from a first position substantially parallel to and adjacent said second one of said walls to a second position substantially normal thereto and to said first partition member when the latter is in its said second position, the other end of said second partition member being free; means on each of said partition members adjacent the free ends thereof operable to latch said partition members in their said second positions to form with said first and second walls an enclosure within said room, one of said partition members having a doorway formed therein; and a door hingedly mounted on said one of said partition members for swinging movement with the latter and for swinging movements between positions in which said door opens and closes aid doorway.

4-. The construction set forth in claim 3 wherein the wall adjacent which said one of said partition members extends when the latter is in its said first position has a doorway formed therein in alignment with the doorway formed in said one of said partition members.

5. In a mobile home having a side wall and a transverse wall extending normal thereto to form two walls of a room: a first partition; means swingably mounting one end of said partition adjacent said side wall and remote from said transverse wall for movement of said partition from a first position parallel to said side wall to a second position normal thereto; a second partition; means swingably mounting one end of said second partition adjacent said transverse wall and remote from said side wall for movement of said second partition from a first position parallel to said transverse wall to a second position normal thereto and to said first partition when the latter is in its said second position, whereby said walls and said partitions form a four-sided enclosure within said room, one of said walls having an opening therein so located as to be overlain by the adjacent partition when the latter is in its said first position; a bay unit; and means mounting said bay unit in said opening for movement from a position in which it projects outwardly of said room to a position in which it projects inwardly of said room, said bay unit being capable of projecting inwardly of said room only when said adjacent partition is in its said second position.

6. The construction set forth in claim 5 including an article of furniture in said bay unit, and means mounting said article for swinging movement from a first position wholly contained within said unit to a second position in which it extends into said enclosure.

7. The construction set forth in claim 5 including a doorway in said transverse wall; a doorway in said second partition in register with the first mentioned doorway when said second partition is in said first position; and a door hingedly mounted on said second partition for .closing both of said doorways when said second partition is in its first position and for providing access to said enclosure when said second partition is in its said second position.

8. In a mobile home or the like having a floor, a root, a side wall between said floor and said roof, and a transverse wall extending normal to said side wall between said floor and said roof, said side and transverse walls forming two intersecting walls of a room, and said side wall having an opening therein extending from said floor upwardly toward saidroof: a bay unit having top and bottom walls joined by side panels and occupying said opening; means mounting said bay unit in said opening for movement from a first position in which it projects outwardly of said room to a second position in which it projects inwardly of said room; an article of furniture mounted in said bay unit for movement from a first position in which it is located wholly within said unit to a second position in which it extends outwardly of said unit; a'

partition member; means mounting one end of said partition member for swinging movement from a first position in which it overlies said opening, parallels and is adjacent to said side wall to a second position in which it is spaced from and parallels said transverse wall, said partition member, said side wall and said transverse wall forming three sides of an enclosure within said room when said partition member is in said second position and permitting said article to be moved to its said second position; a second partition; and means mounting one end of said second partition adjacent said transverse wall for swinging movement from a first position in which it parallels said transverse wall and is adjacent thereto to a second position in which it extends normal to said transverse wall and parallel to said side wall to form a fourth wall for said enclosure.

9. The construction set forth in claim 8 including a doorway formed in one of said partition members, and a door hingedly mounted on said one of said partition members for selectively opening and closing said doorway.

10. The construction set forth in claim 9 wherein the wall adjacent said one of said partition members has a doorway in register with the doorway in said one of said partition members when the latter is in its said first position.

II. The construction set forth in claim 9 wherein the wall adjacent said one of said partition members includes built in storage means, and wherein said. one of said partitions includes an opening in register with said storage means, and door means hingedly mounted on said one of said partition members for providing access to said storage means when said one of said partition members is in its said first position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,536,518 5/1925 Osborn 20-1.11 2,856,645 10/1958 Herrmeyer 20 2 FOREIGN PATENTS 686,801 1/1953 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

K. DOWNEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A MOBILE HOME OR THE LIKE HAVING WALLS DEFINING A ROOM: A FIRST PARTITION MEMBER; MEANS MOUNTING SAID PARTITION MEMBER FOR SWINGING MOVEMENTS FROM A FIRST POSITION ADJACENT AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO A FIRST ONE OF SAID WALLS TO A SECOND POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID ONE OF SAID WALLS; A SECOND PARTITION MEMBER; MEANS MOUNTING SAID SECOND PARTITION MEMBER FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT FROM A FIRST POSITION ADJACENT AND SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO A SECOND ONE OF SAID WALLS TO A SECOND PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL THERETO AND SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID FIRST PARTITION MEMBER WHEN THE LATTER IS IN ITS SAID SECOND POSITION, WHEREBY SAID PARTITION MEMBERS FORM WITH SAID FIRST AND SECOND WALLS AN ENCLOSURE WITHIN SAID ROOM, ONE OF SAID PARTITION MEMBERS HAVING 